This week is all about sports on the Dutch Cariben! The Cruyff Court St. Eustatius was reopened, the Cruyff Foundation Coach Course started and the reopening of the Cruyff Court on St. Maarten is this Friday. With all these sportivities we create space for children to sport and play, also on the Dutch Cariben.
On May 15 we reopened the Cruyff Court in Oranjestad on the island of St. Eustatius under the watchful eye of the Dutch State Secretary of Health, Welfare and Sport Paul Blokhuis and ambassador Anouk Hoogendijk. After twelve years of intensive use, it was in need of replacement. This replacement was made possible by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the UEFA Foundation for Children, the Public Entity of St. Eustatius, and TenCate Grass. After twelve years of intensive use, it was in need of replacement. This replacement was made possible by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport, the UEFA Foundation for Children, the Public Entity of St. Eustatius and TenCate Grass.
The Cruyff Court is literally situated at the heart of sports and play of this Windward Island. This is why the Caribbean Sports and Prevention agreement, that is aimed at promoting sports and physical activity in the Dutch Caribbean, was also signed here between the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and the public entity of St. Eustatius.
Opening of the Cruyff Court on St. Maarten
On Friday we will also reopen the Cruyff Court of St. Maarten. In September 2017, hurricane Irma hit St. Maarten hard. It destroyed the island, and all sports facilities with it. A place to play sports and have fun is key to cope with the effects of this disaster. This is why we found it necessary to renew this Cruyff Court as well, so children and young people could get back their safe playing ground. The refurbished Cruyff Court is made possible by partnerships with the UEFA Foundation for Children, the Ministry of Education, Health and Sports of St. Maarten, and TenCate Grass and will be opened together with Cruyff Foundation ambassadors Anouk Hoogendijk and Hamilton Richardson.
Cruyff Foundation Coaches
During this sporting week, the Coach Course for various sports employees from the Dutch Caribbean, who are trained to become Cruyff Foundation Coaches, was also launched on St. Eustatius on Monday 13 May. This Course is funded by the Dutch Ministry of Health, Welfare and Sport and gives the Cruyff Foundation Coaches the tools to engage more young people with the activities on the Cruyff Court and in their community as Heroes of the Cruyff Courts. Together with the KNVB World Coaches, the Cruyff Foundation Coaches will start working on making sport more accessible in the Dutch Caribbean.
Thanks to a contribution of Signify, the Cruyff Courts in the Dutch Caribbean now also have lighting around the pitch. With the Cruyff Foundation Coaches and the lighting, the Cruyff foundation makes the Cruyff Courts a safe place to play, both in the daytime and in the evening.
